Dharamsala-McLeodganj road faces a crumbling future

The iconic 10-km stretch connecting Dharamsala to McLeodganj, once celebrated for its scenic beauty and vital connectivity, now lies fractured and dangerously vulnerable. Repeatedly battered by seasonal rains and marred by foundational neglect, the road has become a stark symbol of infrastructural decay—threatening both local residents and the region’s thriving tourism industry.

As the road crumbles, so does the calm that once defined this internationally acclaimed tourist destination. Following this week’s torrential rains, new cracks and landslips have emerged near the cantonment area — an unresolved scar left by last year’s monsoon. The widening fissures and deepening sinkholes have raised serious concerns about potential landslides, particularly along sections already marked as high-risk zones.

“The situation is grave. Heavy surface runoff may seem dramatic, but it’s the water seeping into the geological layers that is silently eroding the stability,” said Dr AK Mahajan, a geologist at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP). “We’ve identified at least 25 active landslide zones in Dharamshala alone. One critical spot lies dangerously close to the Deputy Commissioner’s residence.”

Experts agree that the core issue is not just poor road construction, but a severely flawed drainage system. From Kotwali Bazaar to McLeodganj, water management is either absent or grossly inadequate. Shockingly, many uphill habitations still lack a sewage network, allowing wastewater to seep into the soil. Rainwater, denied its natural pathways by choked or diverted nullahs, is accelerating soil erosion, road collapses, and ground instability.

One alarming example is a retaining wall built along a sensitive nullah. “It wasn’t constructed from the toe base—its foundation is weak and dangerously shallow. A single heavy rainfall could cause it to give way,” Mahajan warned.

The alternate Kada-Danda route, often used as a shortcut by locals and tourists alike, offers no respite. Cracks continue to widen with each season, and unchecked runoff has rendered the narrow stretch increasingly treacherous. No significant reinforcements or drainage upgrades have been carried out here either.

Vivek Kumar, Junior Engineer of National Highways, confirmed that repair assessments have been completed and now await final approval. “We’ve submitted estimates to address the damaged and sunken portions of the road. Once sanctioned, the tender process will begin,” he stated. Kumar added that the root cause remains the road’s loose sub-strata, worsened by persistent water infiltration.